EP3479158B1 - Arrangement for microscopy and for correction of aberrations - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a microscope according to the preamble of independent claim 1. One of the main applications of light sheet microscopy is in the imaging of medium-sized samples, for example organisms, with a size of a few 100 μm down to a few millimeters. Typically, these samples are embedded in agarose and placed in a glass capillary. To examine the sample, the glass capillary is placed in a water-filled sample chamber. The agarose with the sample is squeezed out of the capillary a little and illuminated with a light sheet. The fluorescence excited in the sample and emanating from it is imaged onto a detector, in particular a camera, with a detection objective which is perpendicular to the light sheet and thus also perpendicular to the light sheet optics (=illumination optics, illumination objective).

According to the prior art, a structure of a microscope 0 for light sheet microscopy (SPIM structure; Single Plane Illumination Microscopy) comprises an illumination lens 2 with a first optical axis A1 and a detection lens 3 with a second optical axis A2 (also referred to as SPIM lenses ), which are each directed at an angle α1 or a2 of 45° to a sample plane 4 and at a right angle to one another from above onto the sample plane 4 (see Fig. 1a ). A sample 5 arranged in the sample plane 4, which is also used as a reference plane, in a sample area provided for this purpose is located, for example, on the bottom of a sample holder 7 designed as a Petri dish. The sample holder 7 is filled with a medium 8, for example water, and the Both SPIM objectives 2, 3 are immersed in the medium 8 (not shown) during the application of light sheet microscopy. The sample plane 4 extends in a plane XY spanned by the X-axis X and the Y-axis Y of a Cartesian coordinate system. The first optical axis A1 and the second optical axis A2 run in a plane YZ spanned by the Y axis Y and the Z axis Z of the Cartesian coordinate system.

the Fig. 1b shows schematically a microscope 0 with an inverse arrangement of illumination lens 2 and detection lens 3 according to the prior art, in which the illumination lens 2 and the detection lens 3 are arranged below the sample plane 4 . The angles α1 and α2 are again each 45°.

This approach offers the advantage of high resolution in the axial direction, since a thin light sheet 6 (see also Fig. 1a ) can be generated. Because of the higher resolution, smaller samples 5 can be examined. In addition, the disturbing background fluorescence is significantly reduced and the signal/background ratio is improved. In order to simplify sample preparation in standard sample containers such as e.g. B. to allow multiwell plates, the 45 ° configuration can be retained, but the two SPIM lenses 2, 3 are directed in an inverse arrangement from below through the transparent bottom of the sample holder 7 in the sample plane 4 ( Fig. 1b ). In this arrangement, the aberrations caused by the sample holder 7, which is inclined relative to the optical axes A1 and A2 and is in the form of a cover glass, must be corrected by special optical elements. The sample 5 arranged in the sample plane 4 is illuminated through the bottom of the sample holder 7 and an excited fluorescence of the sample 5 is detected. It can

Sample holder 7, such as. B. multiwell plates, petri dishes and / or slides and contamination of the samples 5, especially in high-throughput screening, can be avoided.

Further technical difficulties arise when, for example, Alvarez plates of an Alvarez manipulator 12 ( Fig. 1b , the Alvarez plates are designated for simplification) are arranged like these, for example, from the US3305294A are known. The Alvarez plates are designed in such a way that they correct aberrations occurring precisely at a fixed angle between the sample holder 7, for example a cover glass, and the optical axis A1, A2 of the respective objective 2, 3. Even a small deviation in the angle (e.g. <0.1°) will result in unwanted aberrations that lead to reduced imaging quality. Therefore, before starting an experiment, the coverslip, for example, must be aligned so that the angular deviation is within the permissible tolerances. It is also helpful if, in addition to the angle, the distance between the objective 2, 3 or any additional lens that may be present and the cover glass can be adjusted, so that the sample 5 or its area to be imaged lies in the image plane BE of the detection objective 3.

From the DE 10 2013 112 600 A1 a virtual relay is known, which is used to correct errors that occur when the beams pass through a slide at an angle. Since the virtual relay has a high numerical aperture > 1.2, slight deviations within the optical system, which can vary from experiment to experiment, can result in pronounced imaging errors. The deviations can be based, among other things, on the variance of the cover glass thickness, temperature changes, differences in the refractive index, tilting of the cover glass or wedge errors in the cover glass.

There are several ways to correct these aberrations. So is in the DE 10 2013 112 595 A1 and in the DE 10 2014 104 977 A1 the arrangement of an Alvarez manipulator within the detection lens is described. For this purpose, a free-form correction lens is used, which is either arranged between the sample and the detection lens or represents the front lens of the lens. Microscope objectives are described which correct the aberrations of the oblique passage of the illumination and detection radiation through a cover glass.

According to the DE 10 2013 107 297 A1 shift lenses can be provided in a lens to correct aberrations. Another, also in the DE 10 2013 107 297 A1 The possibility described consists in the arrangement of adaptive mirrors or spatial light modulators for light (spatial light modulator; SLM) in the frequency domain (e.g. in a pupil) outside the lens.

Another possibility for correcting aberrations of a microscope, which are caused by a cover glass, is from the publication by McGorty et al. (2015: Open-top selective plane illumination microscope for conventionally mounted specimens; OPTICS EXPRESS 23: 16142 - 16153 ) known. The inverted SPIM microscope has a water prism, the action of which partially compensates for aberrations that occur as a result of the oblique passage of the detection light through the cover glass.

The invention is based on the object of proposing improved options for correcting aberrations compared to the prior art, which in particular are due to oblique passages of illumination radiation and detection radiation through optically refracting layers appear. In particular, improved microscopes, and here in particular light sheet microscopes, are to be proposed.

The object is solved by a microscope according to claim 1. Advantageous designs and developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The task is solved using a microscope. The microscope comprises illumination optics with an illumination objective for illuminating a sample located on a sample carrier in a sample area via an illumination beam path, the optical axis of the illumination objective lying in a plane that is one of Includes zero different angles (illumination angles). The illumination by means of the illumination lens takes place in said plane. Furthermore, there is a detection optics with a detection objective in a detection beam path. The optical axis of the detection lens encloses a non-zero angle (detection angle) with the normal of the reference plane. The detection objective includes a detection correction element that is arranged in the beam path or can be introduced into it and/or the illumination objective includes an illumination correction element that is arranged in the beam path or can be introduced into this.

According to the invention, a meniscus lens is present between the sample carrier and the two objectives, which is arranged both in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path. The meniscus lens is designed to correct aberrations that occur due to the passage of radiation to be detected, in particular light, or radiation for illuminating the sample through media of different refractive power. The correction element or the correction elements is or are designed to correct remaining aberrations.

In the sample plane, which is also referred to as the reference plane, the sample is or can be arranged in a designated area, the sample area.

The lighting is flat. To simplify the description, reference is also made below to a correction element or correction elements if the description relates both to an illumination correction element and to a detection correction element, or to both.

Remaining aberrations can be those (residual) aberrations that result from an incomplete correction of the aberrations due to the oblique passage of the radiation, be it illumination radiation and/or detection radiation. Furthermore, remaining aberrations are errors, for example due to a variance in the cover glass thickness, temperature changes, differences in the refractive index of layers penetrated by radiation, tilting of the cover glass or wedge errors in the cover glass. These remaining aberrations are corrected or at least reduced. For example, the bottom of a sample vessel or a slide made of a material other than glass can be equated with a cover glass.

The microscope can have a separating layer system with at least one layer made of a specified material with a specified thickness. The at least one layer, for example a cover glass, separates a medium in which the sample is located from the illumination objective and the detection objective. The separating layer system stands, with a base surface aligned parallel to the reference plane, at least in the area for the illumination lens and the Detection objective for illumination or detection accessible area with the medium and / or with an immersion medium in contact. The medium and the immersion medium are separated from each other by the separating layer system.

The aberrations and the remaining aberrations can be reduced for a predetermined range of illumination angles or detection angles and/or for a predetermined range of the thickness of the at least one layer of the separating layer system.

A meniscus lens is a lens that has two lens surfaces curved in the same direction. The two lens surfaces advantageously have the same center point. The two lens surfaces of the meniscus lens can be in different media, for example immersion media and/or air, each with a different refractive index. The meniscus lens has the advantage over the virtual relay known from the prior art and over previously known free-form correction lenses that it can be produced more simply and cost-effectively, since no free-form surfaces have to be produced in a complex manner.

The meniscus lens can be held stationary. The focusing is done by moving the sample together with the sample carrier or by moving the lenses along their optical axis.

The meniscus lens is used to correct or correct errors that occur when the illumination radiation and/or detection radiation transitions between two media or layers of different refractive index. However, aberrations due to the oblique passage are not corrected. These remaining aberrations can be corrected outside and/or inside the lens by means of the illumination correction element and/or by means of the detection correction element (correction elements).

In order to implement a light sheet microscope according to the invention, a radiation used for illumination is formed into a light sheet and directed into the sample area. In alternative embodiments, the light sheet is generated by means of the illumination radiation in the sample area, for example by moving a bundle of rays of the illumination radiation in the plane (dynamic light sheet). The optical axis of the illumination lens and the light sheet lie in a plane that encloses an illumination angle other than zero with the normal of the reference plane.

In one embodiment of the microscope, the optical correction element is arranged in a pupil of the detection objective and/or the illumination objective. Illumination lens and detection lens are also referred to below as lenses for the sake of simplicity.

An arrangement of the optical correction element in a pupil or as close as possible to the pupil advantageously avoids undesired field-dependent effects. In the pupil, the correction element has the same effect for all field points. The greater the distance between the pupil and the respective optical correction element, the more field dependencies come into play, so that the undesired field-dependent effects are more pronounced as the distance increases.

In one possible embodiment of the microscope according to the invention, the optical correction element is arranged close to the pupil if it is within the depth of focus, for example, of the tube lens of the detection objective or of the illumination objective.

Both the optical illumination correction element and the optical detection correction element can be embodied as static correction elements or as adaptive correction elements.

Static correction elements are, for example, at least one phase plate or one free-form lens. The free-form lens does not necessarily have to be placed in the pupil and can be the front lens of the respective objective, for example. A static correction element such as the phase plate corrects static components of the aberrations.

In order to compensate for associated residual aberrations of the structure and sample-induced aberrations, adaptive correction elements can be accommodated in the illumination and detection beam path of the arrangement. Dynamic or variable portions of the aberrations can be corrected by means of at least one adaptive correction element, with the adaptive correction element being or being arranged inside or outside the lens or lenses. An adaptive correction element is adjustable and adaptive in terms of its corrective effect. Dynamic corrections of the aberrations, in particular the remaining aberrations, are thus advantageously made possible.

Static and adaptive correction elements can be combined in a microscope according to the invention. In one possible embodiment of the invention, the static correction element is a phase plate for correcting static aberrations, and an adaptive correction element is arranged in the illumination and/or detection beam path.

If an adaptive correction element is assigned to each objective or if each of the objectives has an adaptive correction element, one of the adaptive correction elements can be present inside and the other adaptive correction element can be present outside of the respective objective.

An adaptive correction element is expediently arranged in a pupil plane of the microscope in such a way that the effective opening of the adaptive correction element and the size of the variable adaptive correction element or the variable adaptive correction elements fit well with the size of the pupil in the pupil plane and desired wavefront deformations are set for the aberrations to be compensated and/or to supply a required phase shift for the aberrations to be compensated. For example, this adaptation and the accessibility of the adaptive correction element are achieved by a pupil relay optics, which images the objective pupil of the illumination or detection objective onto the adaptive correction element. Sufficiently small adaptive correction elements can also be arranged directly in or immediately after the lens.

Adaptive correction elements are, for example, adaptive mirrors or at least one spatial light modulator (SLM). The SLM can be designed as a reflective SLM or as a transmissive SLM.

In further embodiments, the adaptive correction element is an Alvarez manipulator, at least one adaptive mirror, at least one tilting lens, at least one shifting lens, at least one deformable optical lens or a combination thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the adaptive correction element is a spatial modulator for light while in the beam path of one of the lenses, in particular in the

Detection beam path, a cylindrical lens for partial compensation of aberrations that occur is present.

It is also possible for the adaptive correction element to be an adaptive mirror and for a cylindrical lens to be present in the beam path of one of the lenses, in particular in the detection beam path, for partial compensation of astigmatism that occurs.

In an embodiment with an adaptive mirror, the pupil of the lens, be it the illumination lens or the detection lens, is imaged onto the adaptive mirror by means of a telescope. The adaptive mirror is deformed in such a way that it corrects and reduces the aberrations that occur. An almost or completely aberration-free image can be generated on the camera sensor by means of a further optical lens arranged in the detection beam path.

If the adaptive correction element is implemented by a reflecting SLM, the pupil of the lens is imaged onto the SLM using a telescope. A phase pattern is displayed on the SLM, the effect of which is to correct and reduce the aberrations that occur. Again, an almost or completely aberration-free image can be generated on the camera sensor by means of a further optical lens arranged in the detection beam path.

In another version, the SLM is combined with a cylindrical lens. The cylindrical lens is z. B. used in the pupil of the lens to perform a partial correction of the aberrations that occur. The pupil of the lens is imaged onto a reflecting SLM using a telescope. A phase pattern is displayed on the SLM, the optical effect of which corrects and reduces the remaining residual aberrations. A third lens creates an almost or completely aberration-free image on the camera sensor.

The adaptive correction elements can be arranged in the illumination and/or in the detection beam path.

Furthermore, the aberrations can also be corrected within the lens.

For this purpose, an additional pupil is created in the lens, for example, and the adaptive correction element is placed in its place in order to correct the aberrations that occur. A cylindrical lens can also be used here in order to carry out a partial correction of the aberrations.

The invention is particularly suitable in the form of an inverted light sheet microscope with oblique passage of the illumination and detection radiation through a sample holder, for example in the form of a cover glass or an optically transparent layer such as the bottom of a Petri dish.

• Fig. 1a eine schematische Darstellung einer Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops gemäß dem Stand der Technik,
• Fig. 1b eine schematische Darstellung einer inversen Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops gemäß dem Stand der Technik,
• Fig. 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops,
• Fig. 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops,
• Fig. 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops,
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung eines Lichtblattmikroskops und
• Fig. 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Objektivs zur Verwendung in einem der erfindungsgemäßen Anordnungen eines Mikroskops.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and illustrations. show:

• Fig. 1a a schematic representation of an arrangement of a light sheet microscope according to the prior art,
• Fig. 1b a schematic representation of an inverse arrangement of a light sheet microscope according to the prior art,
• 2 a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention of a light sheet microscope,
• 3 a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention of a light sheet microscope,
• 4 a schematic representation of a third exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention of a light sheet microscope,
• figure 5 a schematic representation of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention of a light sheet microscope and
• 6 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a lens for use in one of the inventive arrangements of a microscope.

the Figures 1a and 1b have already been explained in more detail in the introductory part of the description. The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically. The same technical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

The essential elements of an arrangement according to the invention for microscopy, in particular for light sheet microscopy, in addition to the illumination objective 2, which is aligned obliquely to the sample or reference plane 4, and the detection objective 3, which is also aligned obliquely to the reference plane 4, are a shared meniscus lens 10 ( 2 ) and at least one illumination correction element 2KE in the illumination objective 2 and/or at least one detection correction element 3KE in the detection objective 3.

The following exemplary embodiments are shown as examples using inverted microscopes 0 and can also be embodied as upright microscopes 0 in further versions.

In 2 shown. The angles α1 and α2 between a normal B perpendicular to the reference plane 4 and the first optical axis A1 or the second optical axis A2 are each 45°. Two Alvarez plates of an Alvarez manipulator 12 are arranged in the beam path of the illumination radiation BS and in the beam path of the detection radiation DS as adaptive correction elements 2KE, 3KE. The correction elements 2KE, 3KE are used to correct aberrations that can occur as a result of the oblique passage of the illumination radiation BS through the bottom of the sample holder 7 . The meniscus lens 10 supports the transition of the illumination radiation BS from air into an immersion medium 18 and into the medium 8 as well as the transition of the detection radiation DS from the medium 8 into the immersion medium 18 and into the air.

The sample holder 7 is held on the sample table 11 . The sample table 11 itself can be adjusted in a controlled manner in an X-Y plane spanned by the X-axis X and the Y-axis Y by means of drives that are not shown in detail.

The illumination lens 2 and the detection lens 3 can each be adjusted in a controlled manner along the first optical axis A1 or along the second optical axis A2 by means of a lens drive 14, which is designed here as a piezo drive.

The illumination radiation BS is provided by a laser module 15 and shaped by a beam shaping unit 16 . The beam shaping unit 16 is, for example, an optical system by means of which the provided illumination radiation BS is shaped, for example collimated.

Downstream of the beam shaping unit 16 there is a scanner 17, by means of which the shaped illumination radiation BS can be deflected in a controlled manner in two directions (X-Y scanner).

After the scanner 17, the illumination objective 2 is arranged on the first optical axis A1. The illumination radiation BS deflected by the scanner 17 reaches the illumination objective 2 and is shaped and/or focused by it. The light sheet 6 is generated by a corresponding deflection of the illumination radiation BS by means of the scanner 17 in a sample area in which the sample 5 is located.

The detection radiation DS coming from the sample 5 and from the sample area is directed along the second optical axis A2 onto a detector 19 and can be detected by it.

A control unit 13 is provided for controlling the sample table 11, the lens drives 14, the correction elements 2KE, 3KE, the laser module 15, the beam shaping 16, the scanner 17 and/or the detector 19, which is connected to the elements to be controlled in a connection suitable for data transmission stands (shown only implicitly).

In further versions, the control unit 13 is additionally configured to record, store and/or evaluate measured values. Further elements and units of the microscope 0 can be controlled by means of the control unit 13 and/or measured values can be obtained and evaluated from them.

In the following, two coordinate systems with mutually orthogonal axes are used for the description. The first coordinate system is the coordinate system of the entire arrangement with an X-axis X, a Y-axis Y and a Z-axis Z. Ideally, the sample holder 7, in particular its bottom, is parallel to one through the X-axis X and the Y -Axis Y spanned X-Y plane aligned. The second coordinate system is the coordinate system of the detector 19 with the X-axis X, a y-axis y' and a z-axis z'. An image, for example, of an image from the image plane BE on the detector 19 has the coordinates X and y'. In both coordinate systems, the X-axis X is orthogonal to the drawing plane of the figures. The two other axes Y and y′ or Z and z′ can be converted into one another by rotating around the X axis.

Aberrations that occur when the illumination radiation BS passes through the specimen holder 7 at an angle depend on its thickness. For this reason, for example, the correction elements 2KE, 3KE are mounted displaceably in the illumination lens 2 and/or the detection lens 3 in order to adjust an aberration correction to the thickness by shifting the correction elements 12 relative to one another.

The bottom of the sample holder 7 represents a separating layer system with at least one layer made of a predetermined material with a predetermined thickness, which separates a medium 8 in which the sample 5 is located from the illumination lens 2 and the detection lens 3 . The separating layer system is in contact with the immersion medium 18 at least in the area accessible to the illumination objective 2 and the detection objective 3 for the illumination or the detection with a base surface aligned parallel to the sample plane 4 .

In one in the 3 illustrated second embodiment of the microscope (0), that the basic structure in the 2 corresponds to the illustrated embodiment, the illumination lens 2 in turn has an Alvarez manipulator 12 as

Lighting correction elements 2KE on. Optical lenses 20 are present in the beam path of the detection radiation DS, by means of which the detection radiation DS is directed onto a

Detection correction element 3KE is directed in the form of an SLM or an adaptive mirror. The detection radiation DS reflected by the detection correction element 3KE is directed onto a detector 19 and detected by it.

In a further possible embodiment, the SLM is designed as a transmissive SLM.

the 4 12 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, a cylindrical lens 9 being arranged in front of the optical lenses 20 in the beam path of the detection radiation DS, which is used for partial compensation of astigmatism that occurs. The detection correction element 3KE is implemented in the form of an SLM or an adaptive mirror.

Another exemplary embodiment of a microscope (0) according to the invention is shown in FIG figure 5 shown. The illumination objective 2 has no illumination correction element 2KE. Two detection correction elements 3KE are integrated in the detection objective 3 and designed as reflective(s) SLM and/or as adaptive(s) mirrors.

An embodiment of a lens 2.3 for use in a microscope 0 according to the invention (see Figures 2 to 5 ) is in the 6 shown schematically.

In addition to the optical lenses 20 shown only as an example, a controllable correction element 2KE or 3KE, embodied as an SLM, is arranged in the beam path. It is controlled by the control unit 13.

In further versions of the microscope (0) or the objective 2, 3, sliding lenses can be provided which can be displaced radially with respect to the beam path in order to compensate for or at least reduce any remaining aberrations.

in the in 6 For the sake of clarity, only one lens 2, 3 is shown in the microscope (0) shown.

Reference sign

0

microscope

1

arrangement

2

lighting lens

2KE

lighting correction element

3

detection lens

3KE

detection correction element

4

sample plane (= reference plane)

5

sample

6

light sheet

7

sample holder

8th

medium

9

cylindrical lens

10

meniscus lens

11

rehearsal table

12

Alvarez manipulator

13

control unit

14

lens drive

15

laser module

16

beam shaping

17

X-Y scanner

18

immersion medium

19

detector

20

optical lens

A1

first optical axis (optical axis of illumination lens 2)

A2

second optical axis (optical axis of detection lens 3)

α1

angle / lighting angle

a2

Angle / detection angle

B

normal

BE

picture plane

B.S

illumination radiation

DS

detection radiation

Claims (9)

1. Microscope (0), comprising

   - a specimen carrier (7) aligned with respect to a specimen plane (4);

   - an illumination optical unit with an illumination objective (2) for illuminating, by way of an illumination beam path, a specimen (5) situated on the specimen carrier (7) in a specimen region of the specimen plane (4), wherein

   - a radiation utilized for illumination purposes is shaped into a light sheet (6) and directed into the specimen region, and the optical axis (A1) of the illumination objective (2) and the light sheet (6) lie in a plane that includes an illumination angle (α1) that differs from zero with the normal of the specimen plane (4), and the illumination is implemented in the plane,

   - a detection optical unit with a detection objective (3) in a detection beam path, the optical axis (A2) of which includes a detection angle (α2) that differs from zero with the normal of the specimen plane (4) and is perpendicular to the light sheet (6),

   - the illumination objective (2) comprises an illumination correction element (2KE) that is arranged in the beam path, and/or

   - the detection objective (3) comprises a detection correction element (3KE) that is arranged in the beam path,

   characterized in that

   - a meniscus lens (10) is present between the specimen carrier (7) and the objectives (2, 3), said meniscus lens being arranged both in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path, wherein the meniscus lens (10) has two lens surfaces curved to the same side and the two lens surfaces have the same centre;

   - the meniscus lens (10) is embodied to correct aberrations that arise on account of the passage through media with different refractive indices of radiation to be detected and/or radiation for illuminating the specimen, and

   - the illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) is embodied to correct remaining aberrations.
2. Microscope (0) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) is arranged in a pupil of the illumination objective (2) and/or of the detection objective (3).
3. Microscope (0) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) is at least one phase plate or a free-form lens.
4. Microscope (0) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) is a phase plate for correcting static aberrations and an adaptive mirror or a spatial light modulator is present in the illumination beam path and/or in the detection beam path.
5. Microscope (0) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the detection correction element (3KE) has an adjustable and adaptive embodiment in respect of its corrective power.
6. Microscope (0) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adaptive illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the adaptive detection correction element (3KE) is an Alvarez manipulator (12), a spatial light modulator, at least one adaptive mirror, at least one tilt lens, at least one sliding lens, at least one deformable optical lens or a combination thereof.
7. Microscope (0) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adaptive illumination correction element (2KE) and/or the adaptive detection correction element (3KE) is a spatial light modulator and a cylindrical lens (9) is present in the detection beam path for partial compensation of occurring astigmatism.
8. Microscope (0) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adaptive detection correction element (3KE) is an adaptive mirror and a cylindrical lens (9) is present in the illumination beam path and/or in the detection beam path for partial compensation of occurring aberrations.
9. Microscope (0) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a separation layer system with at least one layer made of a predetermined material with a predetermined thickness, which separates a medium (8), in which the specimen (5) is situated, from the illumination objective (2) and the detection objective (3), wherein, by means of a base that is aligned parallel to the specimen plane (4), the separation layer system is in contact with an immersion medium (18), at least in the region accessible to the illumination objective (2) and the detection objective (3) for illumination and detection purposes, respectively.

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